Method for Actuating a Tactile Interface Layer

ABSTRACT

A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/325,772, filed on 19 Apr. 2010, which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference.

This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/969,848 filed on 4 Jan. 2008 and entitled “System and Method for Raised Touch Screens”, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/319,334 filed on 5 Jan. 2009 and entitled “User Interface System”, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/497,622 filed on 3 Jul. 2009 and “User Interface System and Method”, which are all incorporated in their entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to tactile user interfaces, and more specifically to a new and useful mountable systems and methods for selectively raising portions of a surface of the user interface of a device.

BACKGROUND

As more devices utilize touch screen technology that does not provide physical buttons to a user, tactile interface layers that include deformable regions that function to provide tactile guidance and/or feedback to a user for a device become useful in bridging the need for the flexibility of a touch screen and the desire for tactile guidance in using the device. Such tactile interface layers (for example, the type described in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/969,848, 12/319,334, and 12/497,622) introduce a substantially different type of user experience from what is available in the field. Actuation of such tactile interface layers is substantially different from existing keypads seen in the field. This invention provides a new and useful method for interpreting gestures as commands for a tactile interface layer with a deformable region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the method of the preferred embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a variation of the tactile interface layer.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a variation of the tactile interface layer.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of a deformable region of a tactile interface layer.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a variation of the tactile interface layer with a valve.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a variety of gestures and exemplary interpretations as commands.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are schematic representations of a swiping gesture and the elimination of a deformed region as applied to the variation of the tactile interface layer in FIGS. 2-4.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are schematic representations of a pinch open gesture and the creation of a deformed region as applied to the variation of the tactile interface layer in FIGS. 2-4.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b and 10 a and 10 b are schematic representations of a pinch open gesture and a change of the deformable region in a first and second variation, respectively, as applied to the variation of the tactile interface layer in FIGS. 2-4.

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b are schematic representations of a drag gesture and a change in location of the deformed region, as applied to the variation of the tactile interface layer in FIGS. 2-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the method S100 for actuating a tactile interface layer 100 of a device that defines a surface with a deformable region of the preferred embodiments includes: detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location (1) to a second location (2) on the surface Step Silo; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region Step S120; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command Step S130. The method S100 for actuating a tactile interface layer 100 may also include the step of receiving a user input for a particular interpretation of a gesture as a command Step S140. The step of receiving a user input for a particular interpretation of a gesture as a command Step S140 may include receiving a user input from the user of the device, but may alternatively include receiving a user input from a person remote from the device, for example, a third party such as the manufacturer or a second user. However, the user input for a particular interpretation of a gesture as a command may be received from any other suitable user. The method S100 is preferably applied to a tactile interface layer 100 that is to be used with an electronic device and, more preferably, in an electronic device that benefits from an adaptive user interface. The electronic device may include a display and may include a touch sensor. For example, the electronic device may be an automotive console, a steering wheel, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a television, a radio, a desk phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, a personal navigation device, a personal media player, a camera, a watch, a remote control, a mouse, a trackpad, or a keyboard. The tactile interface layer 100 may, however, be used as the user interface for any suitable device that interfaces with a user in a tactile and/or visual manner. The tactile interface layer 100 is preferably integrated with the device, for example, in the variation wherein the tactile interface layer 100 includes a sensor 140, the tactile interface layer 100 is preferably assembled into the device and presented to the user as one unit. Alternatively, the tactile interface layer 100 may function as an accessory to a device, the user may be presented the tactile interface layer 100 and the device as two separate units wherein, when coupled to each other, the tactile interface layer 100 functions to provide tactile guidance to the user and/or to receive user inputs. However, the method S100 may be applied to any other suitable arrangement of the tactile interface layer 100.

The method S100 of the preferred embodiments is preferably applied to any suitable tactile interface layer that includes deformable regions. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the method S100 of the preferred embodiments may be applied to the user interface system as described in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/969,848, 12/319,334, and 12/497,622. The tactile interface layer may be applied over a display, but may alternatively be applied on to a surface without a display. However, the tactile interface layer may be applied to any suitable surface of a device that may benefit from a tactile interface. The tactile interface layer 100 of this variation preferably includes a layer 110 that defines a surface 115, a substrate 120 that at least partially defines a fluid vessel 127 that includes a volume of fluid 112, and a displacement device 130 coupled to the fluid vessel 127 that manipulates the volume of fluid 112 to expand and/or contract at least a portion of the fluid vessel 127, thereby deforming a particular region 113 of the surface 115. The substrate 120 may also include a support region that substantially prevents inward deformation of the layer 110 (for example, inward deformation into the fluid vessel 127). The tactile interface layer 100 of this variation may also include a second layer 210 (as shown in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b) that allows for an additional degree of deformation of the surface 115. In this variation of the tactile interface layer boo, the step of manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command Step S130 preferably includes manipulating the fluid within the fluid vessel 127. In particular, the displacement device 130 is preferably actuated to manipulate the fluid within the fluid vessel 127 to deform a particular region 113 of the surface. The fluid vessel 127 preferably includes a cavity 125 and the displacement device 130 preferably influences the volume of fluid 112 within the cavity 125 to expand and retract the cavity 125. The fluid vessel 127 may alternatively be a channel 138 or a combination of a channel 138 and a cavity 125, as shown in FIG. 3 b. The fluid vessel 127 may also include a second cavity 125 b in addition to a first cavity 125 a. When the second cavity 125 b is expanded, a second particular region 113 b on the surface 115 is preferably deformed. The displacement device 130 preferably influences the volume of fluid 112 within the second cavity 125 b independently of the first cavity 125 a. As shown in FIG. 5, the tactile interface layer of this variation may include a valve 139 that functions to direct fluid within the tactile interface layer 100. In this variation, the step of manipulating the fluid within the fluid vessel 127 may include actuating the valve 139 to direct fluid within the tactile interface layer 100. Alternatively, the user interface enhancement system 100 may include a second displacement device 130 that functions to influence the volume of fluid 112 within the second cavity 125 b to expand and retract the second cavity 125 b, thereby deforming a second particular region 113 b of the surface. The second cavity 125 b is preferably similar or identical to the cavity 125, but may alternatively be any other suitable kind of cavity. The following examples may be described as expanding a fluid vessel 127 that includes a cavity 125 and a channel 138, but the fluid vessel 127 may be any other suitable combination of combination of cavity 125 and/or channel 138. However, any other suitable type of tactile interface layer 100 may be used.

The tactile interface layer 100 preferably functions to provide tactile guidance to a user when using a device that the tactile interface layer 100 is applied to. As shown in FIG. 4, the surface 115 of the tactile interface layer 100 preferably remains flat until tactile guidance is to be provided to the user at the location of the particular region 113. In the variation of the tactile interface layer 100 as described above, the displacement device 130 then preferably expands the cavity 125 (or any other suitable portion of the fluid vessel 127) to expand the particular region 113 outward, forming a deformation that may be felt by a user (referenced throughout this document as a “tactilely distinguishable formation”), and providing tactile guidance for the user. The expanded particular region 113 preferably also provides tactile feedback to the user when he or she applies force onto the particular region 113 to provide input. This tactile feedback may be the result of Newton's third law, whenever a first body (the user's finger) exerts a force on a second body (the surface 115), the second body exerts an equal and opposite force on the first body, or, in other words, a passive tactile response. Alternatively, the displacement device 130 may retract the cavity 125 to deform the particular region 113 inward. However, any other suitable method of deforming a particular region 113 of the tactile interface layer 100 may be used.

The tactile interface layer 100 preferably includes a sensor that functions to detect the gesture of the user, for example, a capacitive sensor that functions to detect the motion of a finger of the user from the first location to the second location. Alternatively, in the variation of the tactile interface layer 100 as described above, a pressure sensor located within the fluid vessel 127 may be used to detect changes in pressure within the fluid vessel 127 to detect the motion of a finger of the user from the first location to the second location. Alternatively, the sensor may be a sensor included in the device to which the tactile interface layer 100 is applied to, for example, the device may include a touch sensitive display onto which the tactile interface layer 100 is overlaid. The gesture of the user may be detected using the sensing capabilities of the touch sensitive display. However, any other suitable gesture detection may be used.

Similarly, the tactile interface layer 100 preferably includes a processor that functions to interpret the detected gesture as a command. The processor preferably functions to discern between a gesture that is provided by the user to be a command a gesture that may be provided by the user but not meant to be a command, for example, an accidental brush of the finger along the surface of the tactile interface layer 100. The processor may include a storage device that functions to store a plurality of gesture and command associations and/or user preferences for interpretations of gestures as commands. The processor may be any suitable type of processor and the storage device may be any suitable type of storage device, for example, a flash memory device, a hard-drive, or any other suitable type. The processor and/or storage device may alternatively be a processor and/or storage device included into the device that the tactile interface layer 100 is applied to. However, any other suitable arrangement of the processor and/or storage device may be used.

As shown in FIG. 6, a gesture may be one of a variety of movements of one or more fingers of the user across the surface 115 of the tactile interface layer 100. The gesture may be detected as a swipe from a first location to a second location arranged in any suitable location along the surface 115 of the tactile interface layer 100. Alternatively, this first variation of gesture may be detected as a swipe from a first location relative to a deformed particular region 113 to a second location relative to the deformed particular region 113. Detection of a gesture relative to a deformed particular region 113 may be particularly useful in the variation of the tactile interface layer 100 that includes a plurality of deformable regions and may function to allow the interpretation of the gesture as a command for a particular deformable region that is substantially proximal to the detected gesture. However, the gesture may be detected relative to any other suitable portion of the tactile interface layer.

The gesture may be a single finger moving from the first location to the second location on the surface 115, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example A). Alternatively, the gesture may include more than one finger, for example, two fingers, where the first finger moves from a first location to a second location and the second finger moves from a third location to a forth location, as shown in FIG. 6 (Examples B-E). In the variation where the gesture includes more than one finger, the fingers of the user preferably move substantially concurrently. Alternatively, the fingers may move one after the other, or in other words, a “staggered” gesture, for example, a first finger moves and then the second finger moves or the first finger starts moving and continues moving as the second finger starts to move. However, any other suitable temporal relationship between the fingers of the user during a gesture may be used.

In a first variation of the gesture, as shown in Example A, the finger or fingers of a user move from a first location to a second location in a “swiping” motion. In a second variation, at least two of the fingers of the user move apart from each other in a “pinch open” motion, as shown in Example B. In other words, a first finger moves from a first location to a second and a second finger moves from a third location to a fourth, where the second and fourth locations are farther apart from each other than the first and third. A third variation of the gesture may be thought of as opposite that of the second variation, where at least two of the fingers of the user move together in a “pinch close” motion, as shown in Example C. In a fourth variation of the gesture, at least two fingers of the user may move in substantially the same direction in a “drag” motion, as shown in Example D. In other words, a first finger moves from a first location to a second and a second finger moves from a third location substantially adjacent to the first location to a fourth location substantially adjacent to the second location. In this variation, the first and second fingers remain substantially equidistant from the beginning of the gesture to the end of the gesture. In a fifth variation, as shown in Example E, the first and second fingers also remain substantially equidistant from the beginning of the gesture to the end of the gesture. In this fifth variation, the first finger moves from a first location to a second location and the second finger moves from a third to a fourth location along the surface by rotating about a point that is substantially in between the distance between the first and third locations. In other words, the fingers of a user rotate about a center that is substantially defined by the distance between the initial positions of the first and second fingers of the user. While the gesture is preferably one of the variations as described above, the gesture may be any other suitable combination of the above variations and/or any other suitable type of gesture.

As shown in FIG. 6, the gesture may be interpreted as one of a variety of commands for the deformable particular region 113. Examples A-E show exemplary parings between a gesture and the interpreted command. However, any other suitable type of association between gesture and command may be used. In a first variation, the command may be to un-deform (or “eliminate”) the deformed particular region 113, as shown in FIG. 6 (Examples A and B). In a second variation, the command may be to change the shape of the deformed particular region, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example B), for example, to enlarge the surface area of the deformed particular region and/or to change overall shape of the deformed particular region (e.g., from a substantially round button to a substantially square button). In a third variation, the command may be to actuate (or “create”) the deformed particular region 113. This may be thought of as the opposite of the first variation of command. In a fourth variation, the command may be to change the location of a deformed particular region 113, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example D). In the variation of the tactile interface layer 100 that includes a plurality of deformable regions, the fourth variation may alternatively be thought of the “elimination” of the originally deformed particular region 113 at a first location and the “creation” of another deformed particular region 113 at a second location. The second location is preferably indicated by the gesture provided by the user. However, the location of the deformed particular region may be changed using any other suitable method. In a fifth variation, the command may be to change an already deformed particular region 113, for example, to change the firmness or the height of the deformed particular region 113, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example E). However, any other suitable type of change to the deformed particular region 113 may be used, for example, a gesture that is not in contact with the surface 115. In this variation, the sensor that detects the gesture may be a video sensor or a distance sensor that detects the motion of the user that is removed from the surface 115. Similarly, the gesture may include any other suitable body part of the user, for example, a hand, an arm, and/or a foot.

The command interpreted from the gesture along the surface 115 of the tactile interface layer is preferably one of the variations described above, but may alternatively be any suitable combination of the above variations or any other suitable type of command for the deformable region. In addition to a command for the deformable region, the gesture may also be interpreted as a command for the device, for example, when applied to a device that is a mobile phone, music player, or any other suitable device that outputs sound, the command may include a user command to change the volume of the sound output. Similarly, in a device that provides a visual output, the command may include a user command to change the brightness or any other suitable property of the visual output. However, any other suitable command for the device may be used.

Exemplary Interpretations of Gestures as Commands for the Deformable Region

The following include exemplary interpretations of particular gestures as commands for the deformable region and implementation of the command using the variation of the tactile interface layer 100 as described in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/969,848, 12/319,334, and 12/497,622.

In a first exemplary interpretation, as shown in FIG. 6 (Examples A and B), a “swiping” gesture, as shown in FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, or a “pinch open” gesture may be interpreted as an “eliminate” command to un-deform the deformed particular region 113. The “swiping” motion and the “pinch open” gesture is substantially similar to a motion a user may make when moving an object away or to push out a crease, thus, it may be useful to associate such a gesture with the elimination of a deformation of the deformed particular region 113. The “swiping” and “pinch open” gesture may involve one and two fingers of the user, respectively, but may alternatively involve two and four fingers of the user, respectively, or any other suitable number of fingers of the user or any other suitable number of fingers of multiple users. In this exemplary interpretation, in the variation of the tactile interface layer 100 that includes a plurality of deformable regions, the location of the gesture relative to a deformed particular region 113 may be used to determine the deformed region that the user wishes to eliminate. For example, as shown in Example A and FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, the tactile interface layer 100 may detect that the finger of the user passes over a particular deformed particular region 113 and interprets the gesture as a command to eliminate the particular deformation. Alternatively, the tactile interface layer 100 may detect a command motion from the user and be prepared to eliminate a deformed particular region at a location later indicated by the user. For example, the swiping or pinch open gesture may indicate to the tactile interface layer 100 that the user desires to eliminate a particular deformed region. Upon detection of the gesture, the user interface 100 may actuate an operation mode that waits for a user to indicate the desired deformation to eliminate. The user may then indicate the desired location for the desired deformation to eliminate anywhere on the tactile interface layer 100. The location may be substantially adjacent to where the user provided the gesture, but may alternatively be substantially distal from where the user provided the gesture along the surface 115. However, the user may define their desired location using any other suitable method, for example, applying pressure to a particular location on the surface 115. However, any other suitable method to indicate the desired deformed region to eliminate may be used.

In a second exemplary interpretation, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example C) and in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b, a “pinch close” gesture may be interpreted as a “creation” command. The user may “create” the button for any suitable reason, for example, to mark a location on a screen, to mark an option, to mark a file for easy reference, or to indicate that tactile guidance is desired at a particular location. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b, the user may draw two fingers together to indicate the desired location of a deformed particular region of the surface 113. The tactile interface layer 100 preferably detects the motion of the fingers and location along the fluid vessel 127 and/or cavity 125 corresponding to a particular region 113 that is substantially adjacent to the location substantially central to the location of the fingers as the user draws the fingers is expanded and the desired particular region of the surface 113 is deformed, as shown in FIG. 8 b. The user may alternatively draw more than two fingers together to better define a central location. Similar to the first exemplary interpretation, the tactile interface layer 100 may alternatively detect a gesture from the user and be prepared to expand a cavity 125 in a location indicated by the user. For example, the motion of drawing two fingers together may indicate to the tactile interface layer 100 that the user desires expansion of a cavity 125. Upon detection of the gesture, the user interface 100 may actuate an operation mode that waits for a user indication for the desired location for a deformed region of the surface. The user may then indicate the desired location for the deformed region of the surface anywhere on the tactile interface layer 100. The location may be substantially adjacent to where the user draws two fingers together, but may alternatively be substantially distal from where the user draws two fingers together. Alternatively, the user may indicate an arrangement of deformable regions to deform. For example, once a command to deform a particular region is interpreted, the user may indicate the desired arrangement of regions by providing a second gesture, such as to trace a shape on the surface 115 that may indicate, for example, a QWERTY keyboard configuration of deformable regions. The user may also indicate a desired shape of the deformed region of the surface. For example, the user may trace out a desired shape along the surface and the user interface 100 may function to deform the regions substantially adjacent to the traced shape along the surface. However, the user may define their desired location using any other suitable method, for example, applying pressure to a particular location on the surface 115. This variation is preferably used on the variation of the user interface system that includes a plurality of cavities 125 to provide the user with a plurality of options of the location of the deformed particular region of the surface 113, but may alternatively be used on a tactile interface layer 100 with any other suitable number of cavities 125. This may be a useful tactile experience where the device is a trackpad and the user draws his or her fingers together to create a pointing stick, such as the pointing stick trademarked by IBM as the TRACKPOINT and by Synaptics as the TOUCHSTYK (which are both informally known as the “nipple”). This allows a trackpad to be combined with a pointing stick where the two navigational interfaces are generally kept separate.

In a third exemplary interpretation, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example B), and FIGS. 9 and 10, the user may pull two fingers in a “pinch open” gesture to indicate the desire to “spread out” a deformed particular region 113, for example, a user may pull two fingers in opposite directions away from a deformed particular region 113 or pull a finger in one direction away from a deformed particular region 113, indicating to the user interface system 100 that the total surface area of the deformation of the particular region 113 is to be increased, or “spread.” In a first example, the deformable region of the tactile interface layer 100 may include a first and second degree of deformation, as shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. In this example, the deformable region may require a first pressure to deform the first degree and a second pressure to deform the second degree; for example, the layer no may include a second portion that requires a higher pressure to deform. Alternatively, a first and second cavity 125 a and 125 b may be coupled to the deformable region such that the expansion of one of the first and second cavities 125 a and 125 b results in a portion of the deformable region deforming and the expansion of both the first and second cavities 125 a and 125 b results in the full deformable region deforming, as shown in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b. Alternatively, the degree of deformation of the particular region 113 may be decreased and substantially adjacent particular regions 113 may be expanded to produce the effect of spreading a deformation across a large surface area. Alternatively, the deformation of the particular region 113 may be maintained and substantially adjacent particular regions 113 can be expanded to substantially the same degree, providing the effect of enlarging a deformed particular region 113. The “spreading” of the deformed particular region 113 may be radially equidistant from the original deformed particular region 113. More specifically, the central point of the resulting deformed particular region 113 is preferably of the same central point of the original deformed particular region 113, as shown in FIG. 9. Alternatively, the central point of the resulting deformed particular region 113 may be different from the central point of the original deformed particular region 113, for example, a user may pull one finger away from the deformed particular region 113 in one direction, indicating expansion of the deformed particular region 113 in the indicated direction, thus moving the central point of the deformed particular region 113 towards the indicated direction, as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, the motion of two fingers pulled in opposite directions away from a deformed particular region 113 may indicate to the user interface system 100 to retract the cavity 125 and undeform the deformed particular region 113. However, the user interface system 100 may provide any other suitable active response to the motion of two fingers pulled in opposite directions away from a deformed particular region 113.

In a fourth exemplary interpretation, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example D), and FIGS. 11 a and 11 b, a “dragging” gesture may be interpreted as a command to move the deformed region from a first location to a second location along the surface 115. For example, once a first cavity 125 has been expanded and a particular region 113 has been deformed, the user may move his or her finger(s) along the surface 115 (preferably in contact with the surface 115, but may also be any other suitable distance away from the surface 115) to indicate successive particular regions 113 to deform. As a successive particular region 113 deforms, the prior particular region 113 preferably undeforms (in other words, the cavity 125 corresponding to the prior particular region 113 retracts), resulting in the user seemingly “dragging” the deformed particular region 113 along the surface 115. As the user moves his or her finger(s) along the surface 115, the successive particular regions 113 are preferably substantially adjacent or continuous with each prior particular region 113 to provide an experience akin to that of dragging a single object along a surface as opposed to touching a first object on a surface and then another object on the same surface. Alternatively, the deformed region may be “pushed” by the dragging gesture. In this variation, the dragging gesture preferably starts on one side of the deformed region and “pushes” the deformed region forward, as shown in FIGS. 11 a and 11 b. Subsequent particular regions 113 may be deformed forward of the original deformed region (instead of behind as described in the dragging example) to emulate the user pushing the deformed region from a first location to a second location along the surface 115. Yet alternatively, the user may indicate the deformed region that is to be moved by the start of the “dragging” gesture and then indicate the desired location of the moved deformed region by the end of the “dragging” gesture (in other words, where the user lifts the fingers off the surface 115 after the gesture). In this variation, the initial deformed particular region may be “eliminated” and a particular region at the desired location is “created” while deformable regions in between the eliminated and created deformations are not actuated. However, any other suitable actuation of deformable regions may be used.

In another aspect of the fourth exemplary interpretation, the user may dictate interaction between expanded cavities 125. For example, in the “dragging” example mentioned above, the user may “drag” an object along a path and particular regions 113 are expanded along the path. When an object is dragged over an existing deformed particular region 113, the object and the existing deformed particular region 113 may “react” based on actions of the user. For example, if the user pauses the dragging motion when the object is in the location of the existing deformed particular region 113, the deformed particular region 113 of the object and the existing deformed particular region 113 may seemingly “merge,” for example, the total surface area of the existing deformed particular region 113 may grow as if the deformed particular region 113 of the object is added into the existing deformed particular region 113, similar to the third exemplary interpretation. The user may then also drag the “merged” particular region 113 to a different location. Alternatively, the existing deformed particular region 113 and the deformed particular region 113 for the object may “repel” each other, for example, the object may represent a baseball bat and the existing deformed particular region 113 may represent a ball, and the user may “hit” the ball with the baseball bat, seemingly “repelling” the two deformed particular regions. Similarly, the user may perform a splitting motion on an existing deformed particular region 113 and the existing deformed particular region 113 may “split,” forming two distinct deformed particular regions 113. Each of the resulting two distinct deformed particular regions 113 is preferably of a smaller surface area than the original existing deformed particular region 113. An example of a splitting motion may be drawing two fingers apart substantially adjacent to the existing deformed particular region 113, However, any other suitable interaction between expanded cavities 125 may be implemented. While an active response to a command given by the user is preferably one of the examples described here, any active response to a command given by the user may be used.

A fifth exemplary interpretation, as shown in FIG. 6 (Example E), a rotating gesture may be interpreted as a command to change the characteristics of a deformed particular region 113 substantially proximal to the user input. Unlike the first, second, third, and fourth exemplary interpretations where the deformations have binary states of expanded and retracted, the command of the fifth exemplary interpretation allows for a plurality of states in between fully deformed and fully undeformed, respectively. For example, the rotating gesture around a deformed particular region 113 may be interpreted as a command to increase the stiffness of the deformation. This may be particular useful in a scenario where the command includes a command for the volume of the device and the deformed particular region 113 indicates the location of the “increase volume” button. When the user provides the rotating gesture around the button to indicate an input to increase the volume, the deformed particular region 113 may become progressively stiffer to the touch as the volume becomes higher and reaches the limit of the volume strength, indicating to the user through tactile means where along the volume scale they are currently. The rate of stiffness increase may be selected by the user to be tailored to their tactile preferences and/or sensitivity. The height of the deformed particular region 113 may also be adjusted as the volume level changes. To adjust the stiffness of the particular region of the surface 113, the displacement device 130 may adjust the amount of fluid that is displaced to expand the cavity 125. The more fluid that is displaced to expand the cavity 125, the stiffer the particular region 113 will feel to the touch. Similarly, the more fluid that is displaced to expand the cavity 125, the taller the deformation of the particular region 113. The user interface system 100 may also include a valve that directs the fluid displaced by the displacement device 130. In this variation, when additional fluid is desired to expand the cavity 125 to increase the stiffness and/or the height of the deformed particular region 113, the valve may direct additional fluid into the cavity 125.

While the interpretation of the gesture as a command is preferably one of the variations described above, the active response may alternatively be a combination of the variations described above or any other suitable combination of gestures and commands.

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims. 

1. A method for actuating a tactile interface layer of a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of: detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tactile interface layer includes a volume of fluid and a displacement device, wherein the step of manipulating the deformable region of the surface includes manipulating the fluid within the tactile interface layer to deform a particular region of the surface into a formation distinguishable from the surface.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of manipulating the fluid within the tactile interface layer includes actuating the displacement device to manipulate the fluid within the tactile interface layer.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the tactile interface layer further includes a valve that directs the fluid within the tactile interface layer, and wherein the step of manipulating the fluid within the tactile interface layer includes actuating the valve to direct fluid within the tactile interface layer.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of manipulating the deformable region includes deforming the region into a formation tactilely distinguishable from another region of the surface.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of manipulating the deformable region includes changing the deformation of the deformable region.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of changing the deformation includes changing the height of the deformation relative to another region of the surface.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of changing the deformation includes changing the stiffness of the deformation.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of changing the deformation includes changing the shape of the deformation.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of changing the shape of the deformation includes enlarging the overall surface area of the deformation.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of changing the deformation includes changing the location of the deformation relative to the surface.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a user preference for a particular interpretation of a gesture as a command.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture further includes the movement of a second finger of the user from a third location on the surface to a fourth location on the surface.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the finger is a finger of a first user and the second finger is a finger of a second user.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second and fourth locations are closer in proximity along the surface than the first and third locations.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and third locations are substantially equal in proximity along the surface as the second and fourth locations.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fingers of the user rotate about a point substantially in the middle of the distance between the first and third locations to the second and fourth locations.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the movement of the first finger from the first location to the second location is substantially concurrent with the movement of the second finger from the third location to the fourth location.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a gesture includes deforming the region into a formation tactilely distinguishable from the surface and detecting a gesture relative to the tactilely distinguishable formation.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of detecting a gesture relative to the tactilely distinguishable formation includes detecting a gesture relative to the perimeter of the tactilely distinguishable formation.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of detecting a gesture relative to the tactilely distinguishable formation includes detecting a gesture that applies a force along the surface of the tactilely distinguishable formation.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of detecting a gesture that applies a along the surface of the tactilely distinguishable formation includes detecting a gesture that applies a substantially twisting force on at least two locations along the surface of the tactilely distinguishable formation.
 23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of interpreting the gesture as a command for the device.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the particular command includes selecting an option for a function of the device.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of selecting an option includes selecting an option from a range of options, wherein the range of options includes a device function selected from the group consisting of: volume, brightness, track number, and intensity.
 26. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing commands for particular gestures in a storage device, wherein interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region includes retrieving the command for a detected gesture from the storage device. 